Bill 21 ‘legislates discrimintation’

Peel Region is Ontario’s second largest municipality comprised of the cities of Mississauga and Brampton, and the Town of Caledon, with approximately 1.4 million residents and 73 per cent of the population being visible minority.

Along with condemning Bill 21, the motion urges federal parties to commit to challenging the bill if they form government. Also, it endorses the City of Calgary’s recent motion to work with the group ‘Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination’ (CCMARD) to address the harms of Bill 21 nationwide.

Delegating on the motion were members of the National Canadian Congress of Muslims (NCCM), who are currently leading a legal challenge against Quebec’s Bill 21, and the World Sikh Organization (WSO), who currently has intervener status in the legal challenge as well.

“Bill 21 in Quebec legislates discrimination. This move by the Peel Region to denounce it not only gives confidence to our residents that we stand against intolerance, but sends a message to the federal party leaders that they must take action if elected to government,” said Brampton Regional Councillor Dhillon. “We are part of a growing number of voices across Canada that are uniting to stand against this discriminatory bill.”

Sharnjeet Kaur from the World Sikh organization added, “Choosing between faith and employment is not a choice we should ever have to make but members of the Sikh, Muslim and Jewish communities are, today, being forced to make that very choice in Quebec. It is important for political leaders across Canada to condemn Bill 21 and tell those that are affected that Canadians stand shoulder to shoulder with them. We’d like to thank … Peel Council as a whole for taking a position in support of human rights.”

The Region of Peel is currently a member of the UNESCO’s Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities and a signatory of the CCMARD. Its police service, the Peel Regional Police, recently passed its own motion condemning Bill 21.